820-Lancaster Farming, Saturday, February 4, 1995 Networking Opportunities Exist For Pork Producers MALINDA MILLER National Pork Producers Council Lower-than-expected cash hog market prices during 1994 forced many pork producers to review and analyze their operations. Not only were short-term concerns important, but producers also pon dered future production considera tions. Indeed, all U.S. pork producers were affected in some way by the downturn in market prices. Yet some producers across the country faced the economic situation as groups rather than as individuals. These producers wire members of producer networking groups. What is networking? It is the 1990 s term being used in the pork industry to describe business arrangements between producers. In some cases, it also involves arrangements between pork pro ducers and ag suppliers. “Producer networks are being established throughout the United States,” said Earl Dotson, director of producer education for the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC). “The types of networks being formed by producers range from seedstock and feeder pig pro duction, group marketing, pur chasing, to information-sharing.” Producers with similar long term business goals are coming together and forming networks, said University of Missouri ag economist Dennis DiPietre. “Net working in the pork industry is gaining access to those resources which are needed for your success, but are not in your own capability to provide,” said DiPietre. A producer must decide if a given network group fits his partic ular operation. “Just because it (the network) works by itself or it works for your neighbor doesn’t mean it will work in your opera tion,” said lowa State University Extension livestock economist John Lawrence. Each producer has different needs, different strengths and weaknesses, and different financial abilities, Lawrence said. Networking is a viable alterna tive for some, but not all produc ers, said Lawrence. “And it is not a substitute for good management. It is disciplined management because you have someone else looking over your shoulder,” he said. “I think the role of networking on the horizontal level can help producers networking both their assets, their information, and their abilities into production systems that are going to be competitive and will make sense in the future,” said Jan Schuiteman, DVM, presi dent of Pro-Edge, LTD., in Sioux Center, lowa. Schuiteman has been involved with networks for nearly seven years. “We actually started network ing before networking was popu lar,” he said. Schuiteinan works with networks in northwest lowa that range in membership from four to 15 producers, and are involved with activities such as centralized breeding, group pur chasing, coordinated marketing, and knowledge management. Leadership is a crucial element in a networking group. Lawrence said a group’s leader may be one of its members, or it may be someone from outside the group, such as a veterinarian, lender, accountant, or local input supplier. Whomever is selected, the leader is one of the major keys to a group’s success. Linden Olson, a crop and pork producer from Worthington, Minn., suggests having someone outside of the network group serve as the leader if no one within the group has the time or the expertise to lead. Olson belongs to Green Prairie Coop, a gilt multiplier cooperative in southwest Minnesota, that has about 70 members. All members of the cooperative contribute corn, but not all members are pork pro ducers. The group benefits from adding value to locally produced com, he said. The benefits of networking, said Lawrence, include capturing resources that would not otherwise be possible by working alone. Some of the possible benefits and real economies that may be cap tured by producer networking groups, depending on the type of group, Lawrence said, include obtaining proven technologies, access to information, selling mar ket hogs in semi-load lots, using segregated early weaning, or vol ume purchasing of inputs. “We have to realize that some of the benefits these networks are going to receive are not financial,” notes Olson. “The benefits may be seeing more of the people in our community working toward a common goal and viewing each other as friends in a venture to keep our communities stronger.” Networks do have limitations. For one, a networking group requires committed members, said Lawrence. “If there is to be a problem, it will be a "people problem. They have to have an incentive to be York County 4-H Beef Club Twelve members showed pro ject steers at the 1995 Farm Show. Competing and placing are as fol lows; Angus Steers Keith Grubb Ist and Clinton Hoke 4th in Light Weight Class Tammi Grubb 3rd in Middle Weight Class Sara Hoke 2nd in Heavy Weight Class Hereford/Polled Hereford Steers Jodi Dutrey 2nd-RESERVE CHAMPION and Travis Reed 4th Oother Purebred Steers Jamie Reed 2nd-RESERVE CHAMPION Crossbred Steers George Dutrey, Jr. 6th Light Weight Class 1 Herman Hake sth and Cassan dra Hake 6th Light Weight Class 2 New projects will start at the next meeting on Feb. 6 at the 4-H center in Bair Station. New mem bers are welcome. Contact Tim Beck, or Lois Rankin at the Penn State York County Cooperative Extension for more information (717) 757-9657. Cumberland 4-H The first annual meeting of the Cumberland County 4-H Live stock Club was held on Jan, 16 at the Cumberland County Extension committed. They won’t do it out of the kindness of their hearts. There has to be an economic incentive and things have to be structured for them to do the right thing, not cheat on the system,” said to Lawrence. A networking group also means joint responsibility and liability among members. To form a group, formal business procedures includ ing bylaws and articles of incorpo ration are necessary. Scott Jeckel, vice president and manager of Jeckel Pork Farm, Inc., at Delavan, 111., said one of the challenges network group mem bers have to overcome is opening up their financial records to other members. “We are considerably more humble at sub-$3O hogs than we are at $4O-plus. It’s probably a pretty good time for people to get together and say, ‘Hey, what can we do to lose less money?’ “ Jeckel belongs to informational networks in central Illinois. “There is strength in numbers. The more people you’ve got on your side, probably the better off you are going to be,” Jeckel said. The greatest benefit to Jeckel has been sharing information among members. “What do you do that is better than I do? What do I do that is better than you do? And how can we use those areas to bet ter each of us? If it doesn’t win-win on both sides, than it’s not going to work,” he said. For more information on pro ducer networking, call Scott Bur roughs, director of producer net working, or Earl Dotson, director of producer education at the National Pork Producers Council, (515)223-2600. Office. The 4-H pledge was led by Stephany Holtry and Jenny Creek led the Pledge of Allegiance. Elec tions were then held. Officers elected were presi dent, Michelle Cornman; vice president, Shane Conaway; secre tary, Bill Leib; assistant secretary, Shane Winner; treasurer, Kasi Scheaffer; news reporter, John Creek; social chairmen, Jenny Creek and Stephany Holtry; and county council representatives, Michelle Cornman and Jenny Creek. Broken Bit 4-H The first meeting of the Broken Bit 4-H Horse and Pony Club was held January 19 at the Mt. Airy Fire Hall. Sixteen members and four leaders were present. Elections well be held at the next meeting, Feb. 16 at the Mt. Airy Fire Hall. There will be a Bob Allen clin ic on horsemanship at lower Hopewell Horse Center on April 22-23. Contact Helen Farrington, (717) 6267-2837. Plans are underway for open Horse shows this summer, at Lower Hopewell, June 18. The Fall Fun Show will be on Sept. 23. For more info on club activities or to join, contact Helen at (717) 627-2837. SEE YOUR NEARES 0 DEALER FOR DEPENDABLE EQUIPMENT & SERVICI Annvllla. PA BHM Farm Equipment, Inc. RDI, Rte. 934 717-867-2211 Carlisle. PA R&W Haw Holland. Pt Equipment Co. A.B.C. Groff, 35 East Willow Street 110 South Railroi 717-243-2686 717-354-4191 F&S Supply Co. St. CJ. WOHSidl 717-489-3642 BrOS. R.D. 2 215-987-6257 Elizabethtown. PA Messick Farm Equipment, Inc. Rt. 283 - Rhesm's Exit mm.. P a 7 ’ 7 - 367 -’ 319 S- Equipment Pitman, PA 717-648-1120 HpiifM'.PA Sweigard Bros. R.D. 3, Box 13 717-896-3414 Honev Brook. PA Tafnequa, PA Dependable Charles S. Motor Co. Snyder. Inc. East Main Street RD - 3 215-273-3131 215-273-3737 Honev Grove. PA Norman D. Clark ttfflwfc. I *, & Son, Inc. Lewis i Honey Grove, PA ®On, mC. 717-734-3682 R - D - 2, Box 66 Loysville, PA 215-869-2214 717-789-3117 FffUffiyH. MP Ceresville Ford New Holland, P.t. 26 East 301-662-4197 Outside MD, 800-331-9122 ■HWKjJLBa mmKm Briftlfton, Nj Washington. NJ Leslie G. Fogg, Smith Tractoi Inc. Equip., Inc. Canton* & Stow Creek 15 Hillcrest Ave. Landing Rd. 908-689-7900 609-451-2/27 609-935-5145 ft KWHOLLAIiO T HuahMvllle. PA Farnsworth Fi Supplies, Inc. 103 Cemetery Stn 717-584-2106 717-386-5945 Woodstown. NJ Owen Supply Broad Street & East Avenue 609-769-0308
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